Historical Document · 1994
H&K's handgun patent, German priority 25 March 1991 and issued 10 May 1994, covering the USP-family design that the Mark 23 grew from, including the recoil-reduction system. The HK Mk23 dive cites it for the mechanism.
||||||||||||| USOO5309815A United States Patent (19) 11) Patent Number: (45) Date of Patent: Möller et al. (56) 54 FIREARM, PARTICULARLY HANDGUN 75 Inventors: Tilo Möller, Oberndorf/Neckar; Rudolf Brandl, Dornhan-Weiden; 5,309,815 May 10, 1994 References Cited U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 684,055 10/1901 Gabbett-Fairfax ................... 89/196 834,753 10/1906 Reifgraber ............................ 89/177 Helmut Weldle, Oberndorf/Beffendorf, all of Fed. Rep. of Germany 954,904 4/1910 White .................................... 89/196 2,776,602 1/1957 Sturtevant ............................. 89/96 3,504,594 4/1970 Greeley ................................. 89/163 4,485,723 12/1984 Sarony .................................. 89/163 FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 73) Assignee: Heckler & Koch GmbH, Oberndorf/Neckar, Fed. Rep. of Germany 21 Appl. No.: 857,028 22 Filed: Mar. 24, 1992 (30) Foreign Application Priority Data 2590012 5/1987 France .................................. 89/178 25234 8/1908 Sweden ................................. 89/163 Primary Examiner-Stephen C. Bentley Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Egli International Mar. 25, 1991 DE Fed. Rep. of Germany ....... 409777 51) Int. Cl. .............................................. F41A 25/12 52 U.S.C. ........................................ 89/163; 89/177; (57) ABSTRACT Locked automatic pistol in connection with which the recoil-produced delivery of momentum of the barrel (2) is buffered. 89/196 58) Field of Search .................. 89/163, 177, 178, 196 19 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets NSX2 2222 A. $ENNS tr SNZ. A ES:- 24 U.S. Patent May 10, 1994 Sheet 1 of 8 5,309,815 Z24–24,764 a y2 as a m r - - - 6 NY U.S. Patent May 10, 1994 Sheet 2 of 8 5,309,815 Š 2 sázzzzzzzzzzzzá, a 2 2 SY-3. 53 Y6 V U.S. Patent 62€. 5,309,815 U.S. Patent May 10, 1994 Sheet 4 of 8 5,309,815 U.S. Patent May 10, 1994 Sheet 5 of 8 5,309,815 U.S. Patent May 10, 1994 N Sheet 6 of 8. 5,309,815 U.S. Patent May 10, 1994 No.zZZZZZZZ `N I** * Sheet 7 of 8 5,309,815 U.S. Patent May 10, 1994 Sheet 8 of 8 5,309,815 5,309,815 2 the breech spring 16 and therefore carries out a forward travel or closing movement. FIREARM, PARTICULARLY HANDGUN During this breechblock forward travel, a new car tridge is fed from the magazine to the cartridge cham BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION of the barrel 2. The barrel 2 is then swung upward The present invention relates to a firearm, particu ber the control elements described and again locked to larly a handgun with a movably mounted barrel which via the breechblock barrel 2 and the breechblock 6 takes up at least a part of the fire recoil and, after pass then slide together6. The forward until the barrel attachment ing over a predetermined first travel path, gives it up, in 18 strikes against a transverse pin 28 which is fastened to whole or in part, to a first force receiver. In the following, terminology will be employed 10 the housing and the barrel 2, together with the breech which serves for easier reading of the specification but block 6, comes to a stop in the position of readiness for fire. is not to be understood in a limitative manner. For in After the detonating of the cartridge, the process stance, the expressions "top", "bottom", "front', "rear', "transverse', etc. refer to a device of the above described is repeated. There are a very large number of structural variants indicated type which is held in its customary position of use; for instance to a pistol upon ordinary shooting in of the Colt-Browning system described above; all vari precision target shooting. This terminology includes the ants have, in common, a barrel which, upon its rear words mentioned above as well as derivations from ward movement together with the breechblock, swings these words and words of similar meaning. Thus the downward at least at its rear section and thereby re front part of the device is that part which faces the 20 leases the breechblock. As is known, the recoil of the known firearms of this target of the cartridges and therefore, for instance, the practice target in the case of a firearm. The longitudinal type is disturbing and frequently painful. This is particu direction of the device coincides with the direction of larly true of handguns of large caliber in which the shooting. recoil is transmitted from the housing to the firing hand. Devices of the aforementioned type, in particular 25 Upon rapidly successive firing, the recoil become un firearms, are known, for instance, as bolt guns or as pleasant for the user and impairs the accuracy of the hand firearms of the Colt-Browning type, particularly shooting. for the firing of heavy cartridges ("Waffenjournal', It is already known to reduce the disturbance caused 1979, No. 7, pp. 908-910). the user by the recoil by having the breechblock, after For a clearer understanding of the starting point of 30 passing over a travel path, strike a force receiver which the invention, known pistols of the aforementioned type is fastened to the housing, not directly but via a buffer are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. These weapons are so device. called locked automatic pistols. Thus, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,031,808 (RA In the ready-for-firing position, a swingable tube, VILLE) an automatic pistol of the Colt referred to below as the barrel2, rests against an impact 35 Browningdescribes type which has a link. The link, in known bottom 4 of a breechblock 6. The rear section 8 of the manner, releases the barrel its lock to the breech barrel which is developed as cartridge chamber has on block as soon as the barrelfrom has traveled in rearward its top locking lugs 10 which engage into corresponding direction over the locking path. The breechblock trans grooves in the breechblock 6 and connect the barrel 2 mits its recoil to a force receiver fixed to the housing rigidly to the breechblock 6 before the firing. 40 of all via a breech spring and then, after passing Furthermore, such pistols have a handle 12 the hand first over a travel path, via a pneumatic cylinder/piston grip of which (not shown here) generally surrounds a arrangement. magazine shaft for receiving a replaceable magazine. Furthermore, Swiss Patent 494384 (Heckler & Koch) The breechblock 6 is displaceably mounted on the han describes an automatic pistol having a breechblock dle 12. Upon the firing of a shot, the cartridge is acceler- 45 also which, upon its return travel, first comes against the ated in forward direction. In accordance with the prin spring and, after passing over a travel path, ciple of conservation of momentum, there is thereby breech a buffer device. The breechblock, the barrel and produced the known recoil which drives the barrel against buffer device are in this case parts of the automatic together with the breechblock 6 towards the rear. The the mechanism. breechblock 6 then carries out a return or opening 50 loading Finally, German DE 87 09 139 U1 (PETERS) also movement in longitudinal direction from the ready-for describes an automatic pistol of the Colt system. The firing position towards a housing-attached breech stop 14, against the action of a closure spring 16 which is barrel of this automatic pistol has a barrel attachment arranged below and substantially parallel to the barrel which, by a control surface, slides onto a ramp surface 2. 55 of a control piece which is fixed to the housing and in In FIG. 1, the rear section 8 of the barrel bears on its this way eliminates its prior interlock with the breech lower side a barrel attachment 18 having a can curve block. The control piece is connected with a guide rod which consists essentially of an unlocking curve 20 and for the breech spring, the guide rod and the breech spring being located below the barrel. a locking curve 22. Upon firing, the barrel 2 and the breechblock 6 move 60 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION together over the paths. Thereupon, under the simulta The object of the invention is further to develop a neous action of a control bolt 24 which is fixed on the housing and comes into engagement with the unlocking firearm of the aforementioned type while retaining, as curve 20 (FIG. 1), or by the action of link members 26 far as possible, its previous advantages, in particular so (FIG. 2), the barrel comes out of engagement with the 65 that the annoyance to the user caused by the recoil is further reduced. breechblock 6. The breechblock 6 then travels further This object is achieved by providing a firearm that by itself up to a breech stop 14 which is fixed on the housing, reverses, and is again accelerated forward by has at least one movably mounted barrel which takes up 1. 5,309,815 3 at least part of the firing recoil and, after passage over a first travel path, gives it up, in whole or in part, to a first force receiver. The firearm further having a first device 4. a spring guide rod arranged below the barrel and sub stantially parallel to it. Differing from the known Colt amount. In this way the user, as well as the device itself, are spared. Browning construction is not increased by the addi tional buffer spring. Browning system, however, the spring guide rod is movable longitudinally against the action of a buffer spring developed as buffer device and the rear end of Therefore, after passing over a predetermined first the spring guide rod is developed as barrel stop. This travel path, the barrel, instead of transferring the recoil measure has the following advantages, among others: taken up by it directly and suddenly to a part of the there are multiple possibilities for the application of the device fastened to the housing, does so gradually and buffer spring, which is preferably developed as a com therefore over a longer time and thus clearly reduced in 10 pression spring; the structural size of the ordinary Colt for the buffered transmission of the recoil from the barrel to the first force receiver. The buffer device of the invention is preferably in It is particularly preferred if the buffer spring is serted in a firearm which has a magazine shaft to receive seated within the breech spring on the spring guide rod a plurality of cartridges and a self-loading mechanism 15 and has its front end resting against a projection of the which automatically introduces the cartridge into a spring guide rod and its rear end together with the cartridge barrel after each shot. In this case, the barrel, breech spring resting against the housing or handle. the first force receiver, and the first buffer means are This measure reduces to a minimum the structural then part of the self-loading mechanism. changes for obtaining an improved automatic pistol. In automatic weapons of this type, it is known perse, 20 In another preferred embodiment, the rear end of the and also of advantage here, to provide a movably spring guide rod is provided on its lower side with a mounted breechblock which also takes up a part of the guide surface, in particular in the form of a recess, fire recoil and transmits it, after passing over a second which cooperates with a guide element, particularly a predetermined travel path, to a second force receiver, transverse bolt, which is fixed on the housing and at either entirely or in part. In this way, the troublesome 25 tached to the handle. In this way, the spring guide rod, effect of the recoil is further reduced. while economical to manufacture, is imparted optimal As is customary, for example, in locked automatic guidance, which is preferably further increased by the firearms, the barrel and the breechblock are preferably fact that it passes through a guide channel in the front detachably locked to each other, then jointly pass over end of the breechblock. Additional guidance is prefera the first travel path and are then unlocked with the 30 bly obtained in the manner that the rear end of the cooperation of the first force receiver. Studies carried spring guide rod slides on both sides of the guide recess out by the applicant have shown that a strong transmis on a support part which also receives the guide trans sion of momentum frequently takes place upon the un verse bolt. locking of the barrel from the breechblock. The buffer In accordance with another preferred embodiment, 35 ing of the absorption of the force by the first force the buffer spring also serves to buffer the breech stop. receiver therefore specifically reduces this particularly For this purpose, the projection against which the front unpleasant "unlocking blow'. end of the buffer spring rests is developed as a bushing, There is particularly preferred a second means for the its end forming the breech stop. In this connection, the buffered giving off of recoil from the breechblock to the 40 bushing is either arranged fixed on the spring guide rod second force receiver, which leads to a further reduc or displaceable over a limited distance in such a manner tion in the amount of the instantaneous transmission of that it is pressed forward by the buffer spring in position the recoil momentum and is also known per se. rest. A rigid attachment of the bushing to the spring The cost of manufacture of the device is kept rela of guide rod has the advantage that the breechblock, upon tively low in the manner that the first and the second the return travel, is not only intercepted via the bushing 45 force receivers are buffered by the same buffer device. by the buffer but, in addition, the inert masses of The reduction in the number of parts resulting from this the backwardspring, sliding spring guide rod and of the barrel also leads to a corresponding reduction in the overall carried along by it exert a decelerating action. On the dimensions of the device. hand, if the bushing is displaceable on the spring According to a particularly preferred embodiment, other rod, only the buffer spring-aside from the breech the firearm is a locked automatic firearm, particularly a 50 guide spring-and the inert mass of the bushing intercept the handgun. The first force receiver is developed as barrel breech. For this purpose, the buffer spring must be stop. The other parts are essentially known from the harder than in the case of the stationary bushing. Fi Colt-Browning system. Differing from the Colt-Brown nally, the buffer spring is so designed that it again ing system, the barrel stop is, however, spring-loaded. moves the barrel back in forward direction (via the 55 Instead of this, or in addition to this, the barrel attach path) after it has traveled onto the barrel stop and ment which runs onto the barrel stop is also buffered. buffer The soft taking up of the unlocking blow obtained passed through the buffer path, before the breechblock hereby leads to particularly gentle operation of the has reached the breech stop (bushing). A stable position of the rest of the transverse bolt and weapon and high fire accuracy. In a further embodiment of the invention, the second 60 of the spring guide rod is promoted by the fact that the force receiver is also developed as a spring-loaded guide transverse pin engages into a depression on the end of the guide recess. breech stop. Instead of this or in addition to this, the rearOther preferred features of the invention will become element of the breechblock which travels against the evident from the following description of preferred breech stop is also developed with soft spring action. By 65 embodiments. These embodiments are shown diagram these measures, the remaining return energy of the matically in the accompanying drawing, which also breechblock is transmitted gently to the handle. Another preferred embodiment of the invention fur diagrammatically shows the prior art which has already thermore has a known breech spring which is stated on been described. 5 5,309,815 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1a to 1c show a known Colt-Browning system with cam curve and control bolt in different operating conditions; FIGS. 2a to 2c show a further known system having a barrel chain control in different operating conditions; FIG. 3a is a vertical section through a first embodi 6 The rear end of the spring guide rod 36 is provided on its top, and therefore the side facing the barrel 2, with a barrel stop 54 which is provided with a control profile. The barrel attachment 18 facing it is provided with a control profile which is complementary thereto. The two control profiles together lead to cam control in accordance with the Colt-Browning principle. For this, the barrel attachment 18 has an extension 56 in the form of half a dovetail, the rear surface of which forms the ment of the invention, shown in fire-ready position; FIGS. 3b to 3e show further operating conditions of 10 unlocking bevel 20. If the barrel 2 and the breechblock the embodiment of FIG. 3a 6 are driven towards the rear by the recoil, then the FIG. 4 shows another embodiment in an operating unlocking bevel 20 of the extension 56 slides along an condition corresponding to FIG. 3e. unlocking bevel 20' of the barrel stop 54 which is com plementary to it downward into another recess 58 pro DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE 15 vided in the barrel stop 54. In this way, the barrel 2 is PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS unlocked from the breechblock 6 in known manner. The known locked automatic pistols shown in FIGS. The unlocked position can be noted in FIGS. 3b to 3e. 1 and 2 have already been described above, so that The barrel attachment 18 has another extension 59 reference may be had to the description given there. which is shifted rearward with respect to the extension The embodiments shown in FIGS. 3a to 3e proceed 20 56 and which has the locking bevel 22. The locking from the Colt-Browning system shown in FIG. 1 and bevel 22 and the unlocking bevel 20 are substantially therefore employ certain of the elements of identical or parallel to each other and define an obliquely extending similar function already described. To this extent, in groove. The locking bevel 22 of the extension 59 coop order to avoid repetition, reference is had to FIG. 1. erates with a locking bevel 22" on the rear end surface of Furthermore, elements of the same or similar function 25 barrel stop 54. In unlocked condition (FIGS. 3b to in all the drawings regularly have been given the same the 3e), the web of the barrel stop 54, which is limited by reference numbers. the unlocking and locking bevels 20' and 22", is seated in The automatic pistol shown in FIG. 3a has the Colt above-mentioned groove (between the unlocking Browning system lock already described and, as main the and parts, has the handle 12, the movable breechblock 6, 18. locking bevels 20 and 22) of the barrel attachment and the swingable barrel 2. The barrel 2 is seated in a When the breechblock 6, upon its forward or closing space hollowed out in the breechblock 6 and on the movement, pushes the barrel 2 into the ready-to mouth side passes through a guide bore 30 in the front fire position,again the two locking bevels 22 and 22" slide end 32 of the breechblock 6. The rear section 8 of the over each other, thereby pushing the barrel 2 upward 35 barrel, which is developed as cartridge chamber, has its again into its locked position. this position, the free rear end resting against the impact bottom 4 and a end surface of the extension 59 Inrests on the web surface shoulder developed on its front end rests against a stop facing it of the barrel stop 54. At the same time, the 34 of the breechblock 6. front end of the extension 56 rests against a correspond In the handle 12, below the barrel 2 and parallel to it, surface of the recess 58. a spring guide rod 36 is arranged in longitudinally dis ingInlimiting accordance with FIGS. 3a-3e, there is a slot 60 in placeable manner. Its front end passes through a guide the spring guide rod 36. A stud bolt 62 is mounted for hole 38 in the mouth-side breechblock end 32. The longitudinal displacement in said slot. The stud bolt 62 breech spring 16 is seated on the spring guide rod 36 and passes through a bushing 64 which is displaceably its front end rests against the front end 32 of the breech placed over the spring rod 36 and is form-locked 45 block, while its rear end rests against the mounting part to it. The bushing 64 isguide subject the force of a buffer 40, which is fixed on the housing. It is clear that the spring 66 the front end of whichtorests against the bush breech spring 16 strives to move the breechblock 6 into ing 64. The rear end of the buffer spring in the the ready-for-firing position; furthermore, that it is com same way as the breech spring 16, against66therests, mounting pressed upon the return and opening movements of the part 40 which is fixed on the housing. The buffer spring SO breechblock 6. 66 acts on the bushing 64 in such a manner that the stud The rear end of the spring guide rod 36 rests with its bolt against the front end of the slot 60. In this lower side against the surface of the support part 40 and way,62thecomes spring guide rod 36 is also under initial tension can slide back and forth over a limited distance on it. An elongated, substantially trough-shaped recess 42 in the but it is prevented from moving forward by the fact that rear end stop 50 rests against the transverse bolt 44. bottom of the rear end of the spring guide rod, together 55 itsThe barrel 2 and the breechblock 6 which is locked to with a transverse bolt 44 fixed in the housing, limits the it cannot move forward out of this position under the longitudinal displaceability of the spring guide rod 36 action of the breech spring 16. The front surface of the on both sides. The botton 46 of the recess 42 forms a guide surface which is limited towards the front by the barrel extension 56 lies, namely, against the front limit front side wall of the recess 42 and towards the rear by ing surface of the spring guide-rod recess 58. In the embodiment shown, the breech spring 16 sur its rear side wall. These side walls are referred to in the rounds the buffer spring 66 and the bushing 64. In this following also as front end stop 48 and rear end stop 50. Near the rear end stop 50, the bottom 46 has a shallow connection, the front end surface of the bushing 64 depression 52 which is precisely adapted to the periph serves as breech stop and therefore as stop for the front ery of the transverse bolt 44. The depression 52 serves 65 end 32 of the breechblock. In principle, the buffer spring could also be arranged to stabilize the position of the spring guide rod 36 and of the transverse bolt 44 in different operating conditions between the handle 12 and the rear free end of the of the firearm, particularly in the ready-to-fire position. spring guide rod 36 and a breech stop could be seated on 7 5,309,815 the spring guide rod 36, approximately at the level of further the breechblock 6 moves back in the direction towards its rear end position. the bushing 64. From FIG. 3d it can furthermore be seen that, upon The manner of operation of the locked automatic the position of the breechblock 6, the bar pistol shown will now be described with reference to rel 2farisrearward so tilted that the barrel attachment 18 rests FIGS. 3a to 3e. For reasons of greater clarity, only the rear end of the spring guide rod 36, and the those reference numbers directly referred to are entered against transverse bolt 44 and the depression 52 dependably in FIGS. 3b to 3e. FIG. 3a shows the piston in its locked, ready-to-fire come into their mutual stabilizing engagement. In this position, the front end 32 of the breechblock 6 position. The unlocking bevel 20 on the barrel attach O comes against the front end surface of the breech stop, ment 18 is in this connection displaced forward by the locking distance with respect to the unlocking bevel 20' i.e. the bushing 64. The bushing 64 is, in this connection, on the barrel stop 54 and therefore by the distance over in its lowest position (FIG. 3d), which is established by which the barrel 2 and the breechblock 6 move together the engagement of the stud bolt 62 in the slot 60, i.e. the stud bolt 62 lies against the front end of the slot 60. upon the unlocking. The buffer spring 66 now acts again as damping If firing is now effected, then the barrel 2 and the 15 spring, in this case together with the breech spring 16: breechblock 6 move together towards the rear until the two unlocking bevels 20 and 20' are in engagement with the front end 32 of the breechblock presses the bushing each other, the unlocking bevel 20 thereupon sliding 64 backward against the force of the buffer spring 66 at downward on the unlocking bevel 20' and the extension most as far towards the rear as is possible as a result of 56 finally resting fully in the barrel stop 54. The tilting the engagement between stud bolt 62 and slot 60 (FIG. 3e). The spring guide rod 36 remains in this connection movement which the barrel 2 has carried out in this phase is sufficient to loosen the engagement at the sur in the position thereof which is fixed by the stabilizing engagement and hooked to the barrel 3. In actual prac face 34 between the rear barrel section 8 and the breech tice, the above-mentioned maximum distance is prefera block 6 (FIG. 3b). bly not moved over completely, but the residual mo The breechblock 6 can now move further rearward mentum of the breechblock 6 is taken up softly from independently of the barrel 2 and therefore continue its beginning to end and therefore solely by the buffer opening movement, its front end 32 resting on the spring 64 and the inert mass of the bushing 64 and, of breech spring 16 (FIG. 3e). While the breechblock 6 moves rearward, the barrel course, also by the breech spring 16. 2, which is also still in movement and in the meantine 30 After the completion of this soft buffering process, breechblock 6 again strives to move back into its has become hooked to the spring guide rod 36, carries the the spring guide rod 36 along with it towards the rear front starting position, driven by the breech spring 16; against the action of the buffer spring 66. In this connec initially, in addition, also still by the buffer spring 66. tion, the stabilizing engagement between the transverse The breechblock 6, upon its closing movement, now bolt 44 and the depression 52 is loosened. The shallow 35 takes the uppermost cartridge out of the magazine (nei bottom 46 of the elongated recess 42 passes onto the ther of the two are shown in the figures) and introduces it into the cartridge chamber in the rear section 8 of the transverse bolt 44 and slides rearward over it. The barrel. buffer spring 66 is thereby further compressed. As soon as the impact bottom 4 has again reached the In this phase, the buffered barrel stop 54 softly takes barrel 2, it pushes it by the engagement distance over 40 up the barrel attachment 18. This soft take-up phase lasts at most until the front end stop 48 of the recess 42 the locking bevels 22 (on the extension 59 of the barrel 18) and 22" (on the barrel stop 54) upward travels against the transverse bolt 44. The spring guide attachment and forward until the front endsurface of the extension rod 36 is then moved rearward against the force of the 56 strikes against the front limiting wall of the upper buffer spring 66 by at most the amount of the elongated 58 (in the rear section of the spring guide rod 36). recess 42. At the same time, the buffer spring 66 is cor 45 recess respondingly compressed. The spring guide rod 36 and The free end of the extension 59 of pyramidal frustum the barrel 2 which is hooked to it have come to a stop. shape which faces the barrel stop 54 is, in this position, The breechblock 6, however, continues its rearward seated snugly on the free surface section facing it of the barrel stop 54. Assurance is thus had that the barrel 2 novement. The buffer spring 66 now presses the spring guide rod 50 always assumes the same position relative to the sight 36 (via the bushing 64 and the transversely extending ing device seated on the breechblock 6. The ready-to fire position is again produced (FIG. 3a). stud bolt 62 which is connected in force-locked manner The buffer spring 66 is a joint buffer device for the to it) again towards the front (FIG. 3d). The bottom 46 barrel stop 54 and the breech stop, i.e. the bushing 64. of the elongated recess 42 now slides in forward direc The embodiment of FIGS. 3a to 3e is in this connection 55 tion over the transverse bolt 44 until the rear end stop so designed that the buffer spring 66 first of all gently 50 and the depression 52 rest against the transverse bolt 44. The barrel stop 54 of the spring guide rod 36 which intercepts the barrel 2 along the buffer path and then moves it again forward over the buffer path and there is hooked to the barrel attachment 18 in this connection upon also softly intercepts the breechblock 6 and finally again moves the barrel 2 forward. The breechblock 6, on the other hand, continues its 60 also moves the latter again a distance forward. Specifi rearward travel, i.e. its opening movement. In this con cally in this way, the device of the invention differs nection, the upper side of the rear section 8 of the barrel from the traditional locked automatic pistols. Further more, the return movement of the breechblock 6 can be slides along the upper inner wall of the breechblock 6. lengthened, as compared with the known pistols, by the As can be noted from a comparison of FIGS. 3c to 3e, 65 length of the slot 60. However, it may also be advanta the engagement between the top side of the barrel and for the breechblock 6 (at its front end 32) to strike the upper breech inner wall has the result that the angle geous already against the bushing 64 when the return path of tilt between the axis of the bore of the barrel 2 and the longitudinal axis of the breechblock 6 increases the necessary for the reloading process has not yet been 5,309,815 10 a breechblock slidable along a travel path with re moved over entirely. Furthermore, it should be borne in spect to said frame and barrel; mind that the gentle braking of the breechblock 6 at the first force receiving means for locking said barrel end of the return movement takes more time than the with said breechblock for a first position of the reversal of the movement of the breechblock of a tradi travel path and for unlocking the breechblock from tional automatic pistol in which the breechblock strikes the barrel after reaching an end of the first position against an end stop which is fixed on the housing. That of the travel path so that the breechblock can con section of the return movement which was necessary up tinue movement along a remainder of the travel to now in order to provide sufficient time for the ad path on its own; vancing of the cartridges in the magazine can thus be 10 second force receiving means with said breechblock done away with, at least in part, in the automatic pistol being mounted so as to be movable over a second of the invention. predetermined path so as to take up a part of the The automatic pistol described can be changed in fire recoil and transmit it, after passage over the detail without going beyond the scope of the invention. second predetermined travel path, to the second Thus the guide surfaces and stop surfaces need not 15 force receiving means; necessarily be developed on the bottom of the barrel. first buffering means provided between the frame and They could also be grooves or ribs on both sides of the the barrel for buffering movement of the unlocked barrel. Similarly, the functions of the recess 42, of the barrel so as to avoid unbuffered impact of the bar bottom 46 serving as guide surface, of the transverse rel onto the frame; bolt 44, and of the depression 52 can be performed by 20 automatic loading means for automatically introduc control cams which may be developed on both sides of ing a cartridge into the barrel after each shot, said the barrel on the latter, on the handle and/or on the automatic loading means including said barrel, said breechblock. first force receiving means and said first buffering According to FIG. 4, the embodiment of FIG. 3 can means, with the breechblock being provided so as be modified in the manner that the bushing 64' is firmly 25 to, upon firing, carrying out a return, opening attached to the spring guide rod 36, and the slot 60 of movement past the magazine shaft up to a rear the previous embodiment is therefore eliminated. The point of reversal and then an opposite forward, embodiment of FIG. 4 is shown only in one operating closing movement into a "ready-to-fire" position, condition, namely in the position in which it differs the barrel, when locked to the breechblock in the from the embodiment of FIG. 3. This condition corre 30 ready-to-fire position, moves together with the sponds to the operating condition shown in FIG. 3e, breechblock through an initial phase of the opening Differing from the embodiment of FIG. 3e, the front movement, travels, after passing over the first por breechblock end 32, upon its rearward path, not only tion of the travel path, onto the first force receiving carries the bushing 64 along with it, but via the stud means and is unlocked thereby, releases the breech bolt 62, it also carries the spring guide rod 36 with it 35 block for loading and, finally, after loading, returns towards the rear. In this connection, the stabilizing together with the breechblock to the ready-to-fire engagement between the transverse pin 44 and the de position, and the first force receiving means includ pression 52 is again opened. The shallow bottom 46 of ing a spring-loaded barrel stop, the barrel having the elongated recess 42 comes onto the transverse bolt an attachment part that engages the barrel stop. 44 and slides to the rear over it. This second intercep 40 2. The firearm according to claim 1, and further com tion phase lasts at most until the front end stop 48 of the prising second means for buffering transmission of re recess 42 strikes against the transverse bolt 44-similar to coil from the breechblock to the second force receiving neaS. the case of FIG. 3c. Preferably, however, the end stop 42 does not come against the transverse bolt 44. 3. The firearm according to claim 1, wherein the first The barrel stop 54, which is hooked in this phase to 45 and second force receiving means are buffered by the the barrel attachment 18, carries the barrel 2 along with first buffering means. 4. The firearm according to claim 1, wherein the it upon its rearward movement. The remaining momentum of the breechblock 6 is second force receiving means includes a breech stop, at therefore gently taken up by the breech spring 16, the least one of the breech stop and a part of the breech buffer spring 66 and the inert masses of the bushings 64", 50 block traveling onto the breech stop being under spring action. the spring guide rod 36 and the barrel 2. The inclusion of the inert masses of the barrel 2 and of 5. The firearm according to claim 1, and further com the spring guide rod 36 in the taking up of the remaining prising an additional breech spring arranged so that the momentum permits a softer design of the buffer spring breechblock carries out the return, opening movement 55 against the action of the breech spring and the forward, 66. After the completion of this second soft buffer pro closing movement under the action of the breech cess, the breechblock 6 strives to again return to its spring. 6. The firearm according to claim 5, wherein front starting position-in the same way as in the embodi the barrel is mounted swingably in a closure part so ment of FIG. 3a. Tests carried out with the embodiment in accordance that a front section of the barrel is supported by the breechblock, and so that a rear section of the barrel with FIG. 4 have shown a subjectively very pleasing is lowered upon running onto the barrel stop the recoil. barrel attachment part and the barrel stop having We claim: elements of a cam control which are complemen 1. A firearm comprising: tary to each other and act so as to move the barrel a housing including a magazine shaft to receive a 65 out of its locked engagement with the breechblock plurality of cartridges; and subsequently back into it. a frame; 7. The firearm according to claim 6, wherein a barrel; 5,309,815 12 11 the breech spring is a coil spring that is seated on a on a front end of the support part, and sections of the guide rod which is arranged under the barrel sub spring guide rod located on both sides of the guide stantially parallel to the barrel, the breech spring recess slide on a surface of the support part which faces having a front end that rests on a front side of the them. breechblock (6) and a rear end that rests on the 5 13. The firearm according to claim 7, wherein the buffer spring is arranged so that after the barrel has frame, the barrel stop being provided on a rear end of the moved over the buffer path, the buffer spring moves the barrel forward over the buffer path before the breech spring guide rod, and the spring guide rod being longitudinally movable block has reached the breech stop. 10 14. The firearm according to claim 8, wherein the against the action of a buffer spring. 8. The firearm according to claim 7, wherein the projection is a bushing that has a front end that forms buffer spring is seated within the breech spring on the the breech stop. 15. The firearm according to claim 14, wherein the spring guide rod, rests at its front end on a projection of the spring guide rod (36) and with its rear end, together bushing is arranged to be displaceable over a limited 15 distance on the spring guide rod so that in a rest position with the breech spring, on the frame. 9. The firearm according to claim 7, wherein the rear the bushing is pressed forward by the buffer spring. 16. The firearm according to claim 14, wherein the end of the spring guide rod is provided has a lower side facing away from the barrel that is provided with a bushing is firmly connected to the spring guide rod. 17. The firearm according to claim 11, wherein the guide surface which cooperates with a guide element guide recess (42) is provided at its rear end with a secured to the frame. 10. The firearm according to claim 9, wherein the depression into which the guide transverse bolt is en gageable in a rest position. guide surface is a recess. 18. A firearm according to claim 1, wherein said 11. The firearm according to claim 10, wherein the firearm is a handgun. guide element is a transverse bolt. 12. The firearm according to claim 11, wherein the 25 19. A firearm according to claim 1, wherein said transverse bolt rests in a support part which is fixed to barrel attachment part isK spring-loaded. B the frame, the buffer spring and the breech spring rest 30 35 45 50 55 65 UNITED STATES PATENT ANDTRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. : 5,309,815 DATED : May 10, 1994 INVENTOR(S) : Moller et all it is certified that error appears in the above-indentified patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby Corrected as ShOWn below: On the title page, item 75 add the fourth inventor Hubert Krieger. Signed and Sealed this Twenty-eight Day of February, 1995 Attest (a (eam BRUCELEHMAN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks